Tire-inflating device



M. ROCHER 1,799,122

TIRE INFLATING DEVICE Filed OC'. 1G. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

March 31, 1931.

31, M ROCHER v TIRE INFLATING DEVICE Filed 0G13. 16. 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 M. ROCHER TIRE INFLATING DEVICE March 31, 1931.

Filed Oct. 16. 1929 4 Sheets-Shaeel 4 m1 no w f s l MwJ/w/ .0 ...MO Y F Patented Mar. 31, 1931 UNITED STATE-s MAURICE ROCHER, or cnNoN, FRANCE TIRE-INFLATING DEVICE Application filed october 16, 1929, Serial No. 400,697, and in France October 23, 1928.

My invention relates to a tire-infiating device of the type applicable to combustion motors and the general object of the invention is to arrange such an apparatus to be permanently attached to the cylinder-head of such motors. l

My invention is particularly characterized by the fact that it established the combination of a tire-inflating device and the spark 1o plug, either as a unitary element1 rigid with a special form of plug, or as an Vassembly constituted by the tire-iniiating device and a spark plug of current type.

My improved combination allows operation of the device in two ways, first, as a spark plug disposed axially and absolutely identical to current automobile spark plugs wherein thevolume of the motor cylinder is not altered and the sparking point is not changed; and, second, as a tire inflating apparatus whose arrangement assures suction and inflation of air which is free from gasoline and oil vapors,A whereas during the infiating operation the spark of the plug continues to take place, but in .purefair, all of which safe-guards the ignitionmagneto.

The operation of the apparatus as a spark plug or as atire iniiater is establishedwith a single maneuver either of-a special key or an ordinary key or by anyy other suitable means permitting 'to obtain either communication of the explosion chamber with the ei;- terior. pure airror` closing of such passage of air alternately and without stopping the 5 motor. f Y l My invention allows eliminating ofy a number `of maneuvers necessitated byV apparatuses of the prior art whichmay be summed up o as follows First,'stopping of the motor Y Second, dismounting of a hotspark plug;

Third,grounding of the spark plug; Fourth, mounting of the tire-inflating apparatus; i

Fifth, running of the motor on three cylinders suchas in lthe case of a four cylinder motor;

Sixth, stopping of the motor after infiation; i, w

Seventh, dismounting of the tire-irritating apparatus Eighth, remounting of the spark plug;

liinth, connecting of the spark plug wire; an

Tenth, restarting of the motor.

My invention will be more readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it relates in the following description when taken in `connection with the accompanying Go drawing forming part ofl this specification i and in which- Y Fig. l is a longitudinal axial section through my improved apparatus adapted to be operated as a spark plug;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l showing the apparatus operating as a tire iniiater;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of my apparatus;

Fig. 4 is a detail of a plate in plan;

Fig. 5 is a view of a modification similar 70 to Fig. 1 with the apparatus in inflating position;

Fig. 6 is a ,view similar to Fig. 5 with the apparatus operating as a spark plug; and

Fig. 7 is a partial plan view of the appa- 75 ratus ofV Figs. 5 and 6. Y Referring to the drawing more in detail and more particularly to Figs. l to 3, the body of a spark plug l is placed in the apparatus on a member 2 by means of a nut 3.` The up- S0 per part 4 of the member 2 is given the form of a gear (Fig. 3) and at the base there- ;of a ring 5 is made rigid, which ring is provided with exterior threads 6 engaging in a corresponding tapped portion of a stationary 85 member 7 rigidv with the body of the apparatus. p Y i When thetoothed portion 4 is turned in the proper direction, the whole'assembly formed by the spark plugv and the support thereof is caused to rise or descend inthe body 8 of the apparatus. ln its lower position, Ythe support 2 abuts the member 8 at 9 and nocommunication is established between the eX- plosion chamber and the exterior air. In its Y upper position, the upper chamfered portion of the ring 5 becomes applied against the corresponding surface 10 provided on member 7. The latter position is represented in Fig. 2. v

The teeth of the part 4 of the support are milled throughout the length thereof in such wise that there exists a channel 11 opening into recess 12 which sn `rounds the support .2 and between each of the said teeth. A plate 13 of resilient character shaped as shown in Fig. 4 is adapted to be displaced in said recess and play the part of a check by clos ing and opening the lower end of the channels 11.

Cduch being the general outlay of my invention the same will now be described with respect to the operation reference being had to the remaining secondary elements thereof.

Thus when Vthe support 2 is in its lower position (Fig. l) the explosion chamber is no liger in communication with the atmos pli-ere and the spark plug operates as an ordinary plug.

vWhen by rotation of the member 4, the support Q has been moved to its upper position (Fig. 2) trie partel are so arranged that a vacuum is created in the channel 11 by the piston of the motor during its descending stroke, which vacuum instigates the lowering of the plate 13 by acting along 13 thereon and the exterior air following the course of the arrows L passes through the channels 11 and penetrates the motor cylinder.

TNhen the piston rises and compresses the air in its cylinder, the flexible plate is struck directly by the air on the lugs 13H which are arranged above the cavity 12 and the said plate 13 takes the position illustrated in Fig. 2 closing the lower end of the channels 11 of the member 4 and thus obliges the air pushed back to follow the course of the arrows b passing through the recess 12 and a cavity 14 provided in member 7 leading to the hose connection.

For rapidly controlling the rotation of the member 4, 1 provide the member 7 with a number of blind holes 7a for receiving a shaft 1.3 of a pinion 16 provided with a handle 17 and forming a manipulating key. lt suffi/cies to turn the handle 17 after engagement of the shaft 15 for turning the pinion 16 in mesh with the teeth of member 4 and thus 'anse the plug support to rise or descend for transforming the apparatus from spark plug into a tire infiator and vice versa.

For preventing reaspiration of compressed air into the inflating hose, utilize a series of valve fittings composed of a threaded milled member 18 fitted in a nozzle 19 in which is loosely7 mounted a tube 20 to which is attached an Ainflatingvhose 21. VJithin the tube 20 is displaceably mounted a needle rod 2Q of square section and of which the cylindrical tapered end 23 is adapted to obstruct, during reaspiration, the orifice 24, whereas it allows passage of air between the flat surfaces of the square portion of the needle rod and the inner surface of the tube 20 during compression.

.lt suffices therefore, for infiating a tire, to screw the member 18 in place on the nozzle 19 and place the fitting of the other end of the hose 21 (not shown) on the tire valve, and then without stopping the motor even, turn the member 4 by means of handle 17 until the ring 5 of support 2 abuts the surface 10.

It will be noticed that this arrangement alone assures a maximum section for the passage of air .sucked in which condition is indispensable for compression of pure air, and this is due to the fact that the maximum section which may be obtained may be again increased by the section of the channels 1l. The direct aspiration of air thus acquires a priority over the aspiration of the gases be fore passing through a bypass pipe line of considerably smaller section.

Referring to Figs. 5 to 7 I have illustrated a mo dilied arrangementin which 30 represents a motor cylinder into which adapted to be screwed a support 31 in the position of the ordinary spark plug. Extending through the support 31 are a series of orifices 32 each of which is adapted to be closed by a ball check 33. Screwed onto the support 31 is a cap 34 adapted to form a chamber 3G with which the orifices 3:2 communicate. Said chamber is placed in communication with cylinder 30 through an orifice 35 provided in support 31. he lower end of support 31 is provided with a perforate cap 37 acting as a baflie.

The member 31 is provided with a hexagonal portion 38 for engagement with a wrench. Said member is also provided centrali 1 with a tapped hole 39 for receiving a spar i plug 40 and a hose nipple 41 communicating with the chamber 36.

From the foregoing the operation of the embodiment just described will be obvious, the direction of the travel of the air being indicated as before by the arrows a and Z). ln this embodiment, however, when it is desired to operate the device as an ordinary spark plug the 'members 31 and 34 are screwed together b i engaging a wrench of the hexagonal portion 38 of the latter which causes contact between said members at 42 (Fig. 6) and communication is thus interrupted between orifices 32 and orifice 35. When it is desired to utilize the device as a tire-inflator members 31 and 34 are unscrewed sufficient to establish communication between chamber 36 and orifice whereby the ball checks are allowed to be alternately opened and closed by the motor piston in cylinder 30 this last position being shown in Fig. 5.

l/Vhile I have described what I deem to be the preferred forms of my device I do not wish to be limited thereto as there might be changes made in the form, construction and dimensions of the constituent elements as well as their par-ticular disposition without departing from the spirit of my invention as comprehended Within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention .what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y y y Y l. A Combination tire inflator and spark plug for internal combustion Vengines comprising a support adapted to be inserted in the place of a spark plug, displaceable spark plug receiving means in said support adapted to form a tight chamber'with said support, hose coupling meansv communicating with said chamber, means disposed between said support and said spark plug receiving means for controlling the supply of compressed air through said chamber and said hose Coupling means, and means for displacing said spark plug receiving means to render said control means operative and inoperative at will.

2. A combination tire iniiator and spark plug for internal combustion engines com-` prising` a support adapted to be inserted in the place of a spa-rk plug, vertically displaceable spark plug receiving means in said support adapted to form a tight chamber with said support, hose coupling means communicating with said chamber, a check valve disposed between said support and said spark 5. A unitary device of the type described comprising a spark plug receiving means, piston controlled tire inlating means cooperating with said first means, said last means being adapted to replace a spark plug, air controlling means disposed Vbetween said first two means, and means for displacing one of said first two means with respect to the other whereby said iniiating meansmay be rendered inoperative at will by rendering said air controlling means inoperative.

6. In a device of the type described the combination of a casing adapted to be received by a spark plug hole, spark plug r e ceiving means, a threaded ring on said means engaging said casing, said casing and said means being adapted to Jform a chamber, an elongated pinion formed on said means, air inlet and outlet means for said chamber and a pinion meshing with said first pinion for rotating said first mentioned means whereby said inlet and outlet means may be cut off and thrown into communication with said chamber upon reciprocation of said Alirst means.

ln testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

MAURICE ROCHER.

plug receiving means for controlling the sup ply of compressed air through said chamber and said hose coupling means, and means for vertically displacing said spark plug receiving means to render said check valve operative and inoperative at will.

8. A combination tire intlater and spark plug for internal combustion engines comprising a support adapted to be inserted in the place of a spark plug, vertically dis placeable spark plug receiving means in said support adaptedv to form aV chamber with said support, hose coupling means communicating with said chamber, a check plate slidably disposed in said chamber, a plurality of teeth formed on said spark plug receiving means adapted to establish communication between said chamber and the atmos-v phere through the channels existing there-v between, means for vertically displacing said spark plug receiving means uponV rotation" thereof, and a manually controlled pinion meshing with said teeth whereby said check plate may be rendered operativ-e and inoperative at will.

ll. A unitary device of the type described comprising spark plug receiving means adapted to replace a spark plug, piston controlled tire inllating means cooperating with said lirst means, and means including a series of threads adapted to cause said spark plug receiving means to render said tire inating means inoperative at will whereby said device may be transformed froma spark plug to a tire inlator without removal thereof.

lll() 

